Pneumatic vehicle-spring.



H. P. ARNDT.

PNEUMATIC VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6, l9i7.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Inventor: :1: j I

, HENRY r. ARNDT, or Airsron, connn'erictir, Assrenon or Two-"ram s 'rocriiiniins M. AMS, or new YORK, n. Y. j l

{PNEUMATIC VEHICLES-PBING,

nmen o.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, 20,1918.

Original application filed October 4, 1916, sci-m ne. 123,753. Divided and this application filed November s, 1917. Serial 170,202,274,

To all whom it may 00mm: 7

Be it known that I, HENRY P. ARNDT, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Amston, county of Tolland, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful v Improvements in Pneumatic 'Veh1- cle-Springs, of which the following is a specification. s

This invention relates generally to springs for vehicles, with more particular reference ,to self-propelled vehicles and't-o primarily pneumatic cushioningmeans adapted to be interposed between the running-gear and the body, semi-elliptic or three-quarter elliptic laminated'springs, of a vehicle.

.The present application is a division of my earlier application, filed October 4, 1916, Serial No. 123,753, in whichl have set forth exhaustively the defects and ob ecti0ns which in the present invention I seek to overcome. The device of the parent application, aforesaid, was primarily designed for use in connectionwith the front springs of a vehicle, and the device of the present application for use inconnection with the rear springs. This, however, was largely due to the fact that the former is inherently more sightly andcapable of degree of ornamentation than the latter an important consideration, in v ew of the fact that they are always exposed to V1eW and to the factthat under present approved or standardized types ofconstruction there is rarely, rear of the vehicle for the interposition ofa cushion-device of the type and design shown and described in; the parent application, aforesaid, between each of the rear springs and the body-supporting frame of the veh cle. As a matter of fact, from the standpoint of effectiveness alone, I prefer the device of this application,--.but all things considered, for. the reasons stated above and for the additional reason that the strains of use are not so great upon the front springs of a vehicle of the modern self-pr0pelled .type nor are shocks and jars so readily transmitted therefrom to the seat "or seats, the device of the parent application is doubtless to be preferred for use in connection with the front springs of the vehicle. 1 3

My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

or between the body and the usual 'ger 11.

At its lower end, thecasing 13 isprovided a much higher if ever, sufficient head-room at'the forming 'a part of this specification, whichl 5 Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of a pneumatic cushioning device for vehicles and constituting a practical and convenient embodimentzof my invention;

substantially on "the line2-2 ofFig. 1,- and stantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 5

.Referring .now to the drawings in detail,

numeral 9 designates the usual laminated semi-elliptic or three-quarter elliptic spring for vehicles, such as iscommonly assoll'is telescopically mounted within the cylindrical casing 13, and a slot 14; in the casing 13 registers with the slot 10 in the plunwith a screw-cap '15, having an air-exhaust opening lb at the center thereof, and at its upper end said casing terminates in a horizontally-disposed cylindrical portion 17 the ends of which are closed by screw-caps 18 and 19, one thereof having a. hole 21 at" its center for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view, taken Fig.3 is a horizontal section,'taken'sub- Theforward end of the usual side'f n'ember23 of the body-supporting frame-now more generally pivoted or linked directly to the contiguous end; of the spring. 9-is secured to the casing 13, preferably, by means of bolts 25 25 screwed through the plate 28 at the end of the member 23 and into an integral reinforcing boss 24 on said casing. A coil-spring 22 is interposed .between the screw-cap 15 'and'the lower end of the plunger 11 and tends to yieldingly resist downward movement'of said plunger, or reactive movement thereof under influence of the pneumatic cushion now about to be ,de- SCIlbBCh i drical. portion17 of the casing 13,1 insert an inflated air-tight sack or bag 26, preferably of comparatively thin, soft rubber, such as, that from which theWelLknOWn-inner .Within the horizontally disposed cylin tubes tori-pn m ic tires arefmade, but r -Yhi si r est an able i1fl 'sible an between the body and the running gear of a vehicle.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of two hollow members in telescopic arrangement, the inner having a closed upper end and the outer being provided with and open to a transversely disposed hollow top portion having closed ends, a pneumatic cushion in said top portion against the side of which said closed upper end of the inner member is adaptedto impinge, said closed upper end being complementally of the same contour as the side of said cushion against which it impinges, and means for connectively interposing said members between the body and the running gear of a vehicle.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of two telescoping cylinders, the inner having a closed upper end and the outer being provided with and open to a transversely disposed cylindrical top portion having closed ends, a. pneumatic cushion in said top portion against the side of which said closed upper end of the inner cylinder is adapted to impinge, said closed upper end being in-curved to correspond to the cylindrical configuration of said cushion, and means for connectively interposing said cylinders between the body and the running gear of a vehicle.

6. In adevice of the character described, the combination of two telescoping cylinders, the inner having a closed upper end and the outer being provided with and open to a transversely disposed cylindrical top portion having closed ends and providing an elongated chamber, a flexible hermetic lining for said chamber constituting a pneu' matic cushion toward the-side of which the top of the inner cylinder is directed, an open-ended flexible reinforcing" casing surrounding said lining, and means for connectively interposing said cylinders between the body. and the running gear of a vehicle.

7. In combination, with the side member of the body-supporting frame of a motor vehicle, and a semi-elliptic spring having one end connected with said member intermediate the ends of the latter, of a device comprising two hollow members in telescopic arrangement, the inner having a closed upper end and the outer being provided with and open to a transversely disposed top portion having closed ends, a'

pneumatic cushion in said top portion against the side of which the closed upper end of said inner member is adapted to impinge, said outer hollow member being rigidly secured to the end of said side member of the frame, and said inner hollow mem; her being provided with registering longitudinal slots and the other end of said- Ooaiee of this patent may be obtained for witnesses.

spring passing through said slots, and means within said inner hollow member for securing therein said spring-end. V,

8. In combination, with the side member of the body-supporting frame of a motor Vehicle, and a semi-elliptic spring having one end connected with said member intermediate the ends of thelatter, of a device comprising two telescoping cylinders, the inner having a closed upper end and the outer being provided with and open to a transversely disposed cylindrical top portion against theside of which the closed upper end of said inner cylinder is adapted to impinge, said outer ,hollow member being rigidly secured to the end of saidside member of the frame, said inner cylinder being provided with registering longitudinal slots and the other end of said spring passing means for connectively interposing said cylinder and plunger between the body and the running'gear of a vehicle. I

10. In combination, with the 'side mem ber of the body-supporting frame of a motor vehicle, and .a semi-elliptic spring hav-' ing one end connected with saidmember intermediate the ends of the latter, of a device comprising a cylinder having a longitudi-- nallydisposed slot therein, a plungeradapted to reciprocate therein, said cylinder bev ing provided with: and open to a transversely disposed top portion having closed ends and constituting an elongated cham-- ber, and a flexible hermetic lining for'said chamber providing a pneumatic cushion agalnst the side of which said plunger impinges, saidouter hollow member being rigidly secured to the end of said side member of the frame, and the other end of said; spring passing through said slot and beingv secured to said plunger.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two 7 ,HENRY P. ARNDT. Witnesses: Y I 1 MARK NAVE, L. REISMAN.

five cent: each, by addressing the "Commissioner of intents, wnhslngtol, D. 0." 

